Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

Graduate Study

The Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations is the school’s signature graduate degree, offered on a full-time basis in East Lansing, Michigan. With a diverse and highly qualified student body, the master’s program is universally regarded as one of the premier professional programs of its kind in the world. Preparing future leaders for professional careers, students receive a comprehensive, contemporary foundation in human resources and labor relations, gain a broad global perspective, and learn to apply best practices, lead organizational change, and act strategically as business leaders.
The curriculum offers a wide range of courses across required core knowledge areas including: human resource management, labor-management relations, organizational change, business acumen, international human resources and employment relations, workplace law, economics of human resources, and quantitative methods for human resource analyses.

In addition to classroom instruction, nearly all students participate in paid summer internships with companies between their first and second year in the program. Through these summer internships, students receive invaluable mentoring and on-the-job learning, working as members of specific project teams and undertaking individual assignments.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the master's degree program, a student must have a bachelor's degree and a cumulative grade–point average of 3.00 or higher in the junior and senior years. Applicants must have satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test or on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Applicants with five or more years of relevant work experience with successful professional records may be able to substitute that work experience for GRE or GMAT test scores. Applicants must complete one course in microeconomic principles, one course in statistics, and one course in behavioral sciences with a minimum grade of 3.0 in each course. In addition, applicants will be judged on the quality of their statement of objectives and three letters of reference.

Requirements for the Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations Degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis). The student must complete 36 credits with a grade–point average of at least 3.00.

1.

All of the following courses (15 credits):

HRLR

809

Economics of Human Resources

3

HRLR

813

Organizational Behavior for Human Resources and Labor Relations

3

HRLR

820

Human Resource Practices and Decisions

3

HRLR

832

Quantitative Methods for Human Resources Analyses

3

HRLR

858

Collective Bargaining

3

2.

One course from each of the following core knowledge areas (12 credits):

Human Resource Management

HRLR

821

Talent Acquisition and Deployment

3

HRLR

822

Training and Development

3

HRLR

825

Compensation

3

HRLR

828

Human Resource Information Systems

3

HRLR

829

Foundations of Employee Benefits

3

International Human Resources and Labor Relations

HRLR

854

Comparative Employment Relations

3

HRLR

855

International Human Resources

3

HRLR

859

Study Abroad in Human Resources and Labor Relations

3

Workplace Law

HRLR

863

Labor Law

3

HRLR

868

Employment Law

3

Strategy and Firm Performance

HRLR

871

Human Resource and Firm Performance

3

HRLR

872

Human Resources Strategy

3

3.

Nine additional credits in courses approved by the student’s academic advisor or guidance committee. Students pursuing Plan A (with thesis) must complete 4 credits of HRLR 899 Master’s Thesis Research as part of this elective requirement.

Human Resources and Labor Relations-Law

Human Resources and Labor Relations students who are admitted to the dual MHRL/JD program with the Michigan State University - College of Law may transfer a maximum of 9 credits from the Michigan State University/College of Law program to the MHRL program. These credits may be used only to satisfy elective credits. Only Plan B (without thesis) is available for election under the dual degree program.

Human Resources and Labor Relations - Doctor of Philosophy

The School of Human Resources and Labor Relations offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations to prepare students for a career as a scholar in human resources or labor and employment relations in a tenure-track position at a research-oriented university. Students study employment phenomena from the perspective of multiple actors including employees, employers, unions, the government, and society at-large. The program integrates tools from diverse disciplines including economics, management, and psychology.

Admission

Admission to this doctoral program is based on an evaluation of the student’s academic record, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, letters of recommendation, written statements, and an application form. For further details, visit our Web site at www.hrlr.msu.edu.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations

Students will complete course work and seminars within the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations, and within other departments in the university. Students will be required to pass comprehensive examinations based on their course work, to demonstrate research competency by writing an empirical research paper, and to defend their dissertation successfully. Students must:

1.

Complete the following courses (15 credits):

HRLR

991A

Theoretical Perspectives in Human Resource Management

3

HRLR

991B

Theoretical Perspectives in Labor and Employment Relations

3

HRLR

992A

Research Perspectives in Human Resource Management

3

HRLR

992B

Research Perspectives in Labor and Employment Relations

3

HRLR

993

Research Methods for Human Resource and Labor Relations

3

2.

Complete three doctoral level research methods courses within other departments approved by the student’s doctoral committee.

3.

Complete four doctoral level courses in other departments approved by the student’s doctoral committee.